Device for changing the radial relation of two shafts



w. w. PLUMB 3,385,125

DEVICE FOR CHANGING THE RADIAL RELATION OF TWO SHAFTS May 28, 1968 Filed Sept. 21, 1964 United States Patent 3,385,125 DEVICE FGR CHANGING THE RADIAL RELATION OF TWO SHAFTS William W. Plumb, Dallas, Tex., assignor to St. Regis Paper Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Sept. 21, 1964, Ser. No. 397,970 3 Claims. (Cl. 74395) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLUSURE A mechanism for changing the operating position or a label-applying device in a machine for applying a label to a package so that the position of the label with respect to the package can be changed without stopping the machine, which includes a plurality of planetary gears meshed between a rotatable sun gear and a normally fixed rotatable ring gear.

This invention relates to a device for changing the radial relation of two shafts, both of which operate at the same rotational speed, while said shafts are in motion. More particularly, this invention relates to a mechanism designed to position end labels properly on overwrap products, particularly bread, while the packaging machine and label application mechanism are in motion.

Automatic bread overwrap machines operate by applying a flexible wrapping material to the bread, the length of said wrapping material being somewhat greater than the periphery of the bread, to cause an overlap which can be longitudinally sealed on the under side of the loaf, the width of the Wrapping material being substantially greater than the length of the loaf of bread. The extended ends of the wrapping material are then sequentially folded to cover the ends of the bread. End labels with adhesive surfaces are then applied over the exposed flat folded surfaces of the end folds on each end of the loaf of bread.The labels are then firmly sealed to the end folds of the overwrap by contact between heated plates as the bread moves on .a conveyor.

It is essential that the end labels be applied centrally to the fold ends of the overwrap package to provide for the optimum seal on said package, as well as for best appearance. It is also frequently necessary because of changes in the style, shape, or size of the loaf of bread, or changes in the size and shape of the label, to change the position of the point of label application.

End label applicator units are available on all major automatic bread overwrap machines. Typical end label applicator units and their mode of operation are fully described in the A. J. Schmidt et al. Patent No. 2,349,309 issued May 23, 1944 and the M. F. Weida Patent No. 2,349,317 issued May 23, 1944.

All known end label applicator uni-ts, including those cited above, require that the wrapping machine be stopped .to laterally reposition the point of application of the end labels. In addition, there are no means to determine accurately the new position of the end label after the adjust-ment is made, frequently requiring the operator to stop, adjust and reset the machine several times before the proper position is attained. This mode of operation causes costly down time. Operators frequently allow the end labels to run slightly off center after several adjustments, rather than take the additional time to reset the label position again.

An object of this invention is to provide a device that can be used in conjunction with end label applicators which permits rapid and accurate positioning of end labels on overwrap products.

It is another object of this invention to provide a device which will permit adjustment of the point of application of end labels to overwrap packages while the packaging machine is operating.

A further object of this invention is to provide for a device for centrally locating end labels on overwrap packages of different sizes without stopping the overwrap machine to reset the label applicating device.

This invention can best be explained in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates three loaves of bread on which the labels are applied in different positions on the overwrapped ends of the loaves.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the end label positioning device, in conformance with the proposed invention.

In FIG. 1 the numbers 10 represent the end view of overwrapped loaves of bread. Number 11 represents a conveyor with the arrow above the loaves of bread indicating the direction of movement of said loaves on the conveyor. Number 12 represents an end label which has been applied too late and is, therefore, off-center to the left. Number 13 represents an end label which has been properly positioned on a loaf of bread. Number 14 represents an end label which was applied too early, resulting in an off-center position to the right.

In FIG. 2, number 15 represents a shaft which is driven and Whose speed is controlled in a fixed relation to the speed of the main drive of the overwrap machine. In the Schmidt et al. patent, shaft 11 driven by sprocket 10, in FIG. 1 of said patent, corresponds to shaft 15. In the Weida patent, shaft 23 driven by sprocket 22, as depicted in FIG. 3 of said patent, corresponds to shaft 15.

Number 16 is a sprocket attached to drive shaft 15 which turns sprocket 18 by means of roller chain 17. The number of teeth in sprockets 16 and 18 are in a 1:2 ratio. Sprocket 18 is securely fastened to tubular shaft 15'. Plate 20 is also securely fastened to tubular shaft 19. Three freely rotatable planetary gears 21 are connected to plate 20 by means of shoulder bolts 22. The planetary gears 21 are in contact with a sun gear 23 and also with an internal ring gear 24. The ratio of the number of teeth on the planetary, sun, and ring gears is 1:2:4. The sun gear 23 is connected to shaft 28 which rotates freely inside the tubular shaft 19. The opposite end of shaft 28 has a sprocket 29 attached thereto which turns sprocket 30 by means of roller chain 31. The ratio of the number of teeth in sprockets 29 and 30 is 2:3. Spocket 30 is securely fastened to tubular shaft 32, which is freely rotatable about shaft 15. Shaft 32 is interconnected to and operates the label applicator unit.

The combination of sprockets and gears with the ratios described above results in a 1:1 ratio of the rotational speed of the shafts 15 and 32. A shift in the radial or angular relationship between shaft 15 and shaft 32 is obtained by adjusting knob 25 which turns normally fixed ring gear 24 by means of Worm 2-6 acting on the external worm ear 27 of ring gear 24. Said adjustment can be easily made in sight of the moving loaves of bread while the machine is operating.

It should be noted that while shafts 15 and 32 are depicted as being concentric, the actual arrangement is dependent on the design of the label applicator unit.

In the Schmidt et al. patent, shaft 19 which is concentric with shaft 11 as depicted in FIG. 1 of said patent corresponds to shaft 32 which is concentric with shaft 15. In the Schmidt applicator unit, sprockets 15 and 16 of this label positioner device would replace the double sprockets 18 on the Schmidt label applicator unit. Sprocket 25 of the Schmidt applicator unit would be changed so that the number of teeth corresponds to the number of teeth on sprocket 15 of the end label positioner.

gears has been used successfully on end label applicator components of commercially available bread overwrap machines. It should be obvious to one skilled in the art that other combinations employing gears in place of the sprockets and chains or timing belts and pulleys could also be used. The prime requirement of this device is a 1:1 rotational ratio between the input and output shafts and the arrangement wherein the radial relationship between said shafts can be adjusted while the shafts are rotating.

3 In the Weida patent, sprocket 16 would be attached to shaft 23 while sprocket 15 would be attached to shaft 28, replacing collar 27 and its associated locking device.

The device as disclosed is contained in a housing for safety and appearance. In addition, a locking device such 5 as a set screw can be used to prevent inadvertent movement of the ring gear due to vibrations of the machine, said locking device being withdrawn when the adjustment of the end label applicator is required.

The specific arrangement of sprockets, chains, and

I claim:

(ii) a fourth shaft that is rotatable inside the tubular third shaft and drives the output shaft through a speed-changing means,

(iii) a sun gear fixedly secured to the third shaft,

(iv) a plurality of planetary gears pivotally secured to the third shaft and meshed with the sun gear,

(v) a normally fixed rotatable internal ring gear embracing and meshed with the planetary gears, and

(vi) means for selectively rotating the ring gear.

2. A label-applying device as defined in claim 1 in which the inner periphery of the ring gear has four times as many teeth as each of the planetary gears that are meshed therewith, and the sun gear has twice as many teeth as each of the planetary gears.

3. A label-applying device as defined in claim 1 in which the speed-changing means between the third shaft and the output shaft is adapted to produce two rotations of the output shaft to each three rotations of the third shaft.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,247,536 11/1917 InshaW 74-394 2,245,075 6/1941 Mingle 74--395 2,349,309 5/1944 Schmidt et al. 156--559 XR 2,349,317 5/1944 Weida l56-528 XR EARL M. BERGERT, Primary Examiner.

H. F. EPSTEIN, Assistant Examiner. 

